CEU moves to Vienna. The President's letter:

 

Dear Colleagues,

For twenty months, we have stood together, strengthened by tens of thousands of supporters in Budapest and around the world, defending our university and academic freedom from an unprincipled and ruthless attack.

 

We can be proud of ourselves.

Now we face a moment of truth.

It has become apparent that the Hungarian government has no intention of signing the agreement that it negotiated. No intention of recognizing our educational activities in New York, no intention of respecting the rule of law.

It’s also apparent that no one is riding to our rescue.

We have been forced out of the city and country that CEU has called home for 27 years, and that many of you have called home for generations. It is a dark day for Hungary.

 

We must now turn all of our attention to the future and recruit new students and open our US programs in Vienna, beginning in September 2019.

 

As we do so, we must hold fast to two principles. In everything we do, we must sustain the academic quality of our teaching and research and in everything we plan together, we must strengthen the unity of CEU.

 

From 2019-2020, we will operate as a multi-campus university. Already admitted students will complete their studies in Budapest. Incoming students will begin their degrees in Vienna. We will keep as many activities as possible in our Budapest home, while establishing a permanent campus at our Vienna site. Academic units have submitted plans for teaching on two sites and all other units—research centers, archives, the institute of advanced study—should complete their plans before the winter break. Administrative units and students will be consulted next. A Vienna Project Director is on board to coordinate and manage the entire process. Both she and the CEU leadership team will consult with everyone involved and by late January develop a plan that we can share and implement together.
On a personal note, I have been inspired by your extraordinary dedication, solidarity and coolness under pressure.
Thank you.

Michael Ignatieff

President and Rector
CEU